THE TRUST PRINCIPLE

South Africa’s KPMG boss Ignatius Sehoole on why ethical behavior must extend beyond working hours to all other aspects of life.

- KOPANO GUMBI

LONG BEFORE HE BECAME THE CHIEF executive of one of the largest audit firms in South Africa, KPMG, Ignatius Sehoole was a leader. This warm and good-natured man who grew up in the townships of Pretoria, South Africa’s capital city, had a vision for his life and executed it. Once he had decided he would become a Chartered Accountant, he didn’t just become one, he went on to be one of the most well-respected in the industry.

Navigating this world with integrity is not only a way of life for him, but a way of being. Sehoole was expelled from the University of Limpopo, in the South African province, for organizing a protest against it.

That did not deter him from executing his goal of working in the accounting profession. With persistence, a commitment to excellence and a good sense of humor, he has spent close to 40 years stoically building a name for himself in the profession he proudly exclaims is his passion. Now, as the man in charge at KPMG South Africa, his true mettle is being tested.

“When I had an opportunity to come and be part of rebuilding the profession and repositioning it back to where it should be, it was a no-brainer for me,” Sehoole says of his decision to take over as head of the audit firm in June 2019.

KPMG struggled to rebuild its reputation after it was fingered in the damning revelations from investigative reporting known as the #GuptaLeaks. The Gupta family are accused of having had a corrupt relationship with the former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, and his family. KPMG had been auditing Gupta-owned companies for over 15 years and had reportedly not raised the necessary red flags.